My experience volunteering to study house mice on Aride Island

​My name is Esme, and I’m from Scotland. I am currently studying at the University of Exeter for an MSc in Conservation and Biodiversity. As part of my dissertation, I have been lucky enough to conduct my research on Aride Island. My project focuses on a species few visitors to the island see, but one which may have significant implications on the island ecosystem: the house mouse. Whilst many other islands struggle with numerous invasive mammals, like rats and cats, Aride successfully eradicated these species; however, house mice remain.
 
Although small and often overlooked, mice have been linked to seabird declines on other islands around the world. Considering Aride is an important haven for seabird species in the Western Indian Ocean, with hundreds of thousands of birds nesting each year, understanding whether and how mice may be affecting them is essential. My goal was to begin establishing baseline data on the relative abundance of house mice across Aride’s different habitats. This is crucial information that could shape future eradication decisions.
 
This involved 6 weeks of live trapping across 3 different habitat types, focusing on areas where seabirds nest. Mice were marked with unique hair clips to tell individuals apart. Trapping ran for a week in each habitat, then was repeated after a short break.
 
But life on Aride isn’t just data and mouse traps. I don’t think anything quite prepares you for it. You can read all you like and look at countless pictures (I know I did), but waking up on the island for the first time, to the sound of seabirds and crashing waves, is a feeling you can't quite capture in a photograph. It isn't one stationary moment, it’s hundreds, woven together creating a feeling that words or pictures can’t quite capture.
 
What stood out most wasn’t a single moment, but the feeling of it all. Mostly Aride is the people, the small, dedicated team who welcomed us with open arms, who I cannot thank enough. We were incredibly lucky to learn from them and get stuck into other parts of the island’s conservation work too, from bird counts to turtle monitoring, gaining unforgettable hands-on experience.
 
If you’re thinking of volunteering or doing research on Aride, do it. It’s hard work, no doubt. But it’s also unforgettable. You’ll learn more than you expect, not just about wildlife, but about resilience, community, and yourself.